Titanium Flashcards
When was the music video released?
December 21st 2011
Who wrote the lyrics for and sung Titanium?
Australian singer-songwriter Sia who has co-written songs with celebrities such as Beyonce and Rihanna
Who produced the music for Titanium?
French DJ and producer David Guetta
Who was the song originally written for before it was “given” to Guetta?
American singer Alicia Keys
How is Sia the USP (unique selling point) for the song?
Because she is known to be a reclusive yet eccentric character (was retired at the time to focus on song-writing, used to wear giant wigs and masks to hide her identity), audiences are intrigued by her unique voice and excited to see her next move
How many views does the video have on Youtube?
1.8 billion (nearly 2 billion); commercially successful
What is the name of the David Guetta album the song was featured on?
Nothing But the Beat
How does the beginning of the video hook the audience?
Begins with a narrative enigma, the audience starts watching with an unanswered question (what happened?) which keeps them interested and watching
How is slo-mo used within the video?
The video is slowed down for dramatic effect, to increase the time of each scene
How is a sped-up effect used within the video?
When the boy is riding his bike back home, the scene is sped-up which increases the intensity of the scene and links to the boy’s supernatural powers which could allow him to move at a superhuman speed
What filming technique is used for the video?
Cinematic filming
How is the boy represented within the music video?
As both the main protagonist and antagonist, the audience feels sympathetic towards him but the other characters dislike him
As a stereotypical outcast, a victim of bullying/misunderstood adults, vulnerable when he is kicked to the ground by police and hugging himself into a ball, different/strange due to his supernatural powers
Both as a threat and as a victim
As being from a lower-class background due to his desaturated, dull, messy house
How is the teacher represented?
As a stereotypically feminine damsel-in-distress, weak, fearful, shouting “Help me! on the phone at school, needs the male authorities to help/save her
How are the police officers represented?
As stereotypical masculine heroes, coming to “save the day” and protect the female teacher, brave, powerful, dominant, aggressive
Why was the song removed from U.S. radio stations in 2012?
Due to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
The song contains themes of shooting and guns while the music video depicts an explosion/violent incident in a school, which may be seen as inappropriate/insensitive to listen to/watch during the real-life tragedy
What is the effect of the low angle shot used when the boy is kicked down by police at the end of the video?
Represents him as weak and inferior compared to the police officers
How is the boy’s determination to resist against the police/metaphorical bullies represented?
Through a close up shot of his climbing boots, backpack and supplies which connotes how he is prepared to run away and be free
“I’m bulletproof / Nothing to lose / Fire away / Fire away”
What does this lyric connote?
Connotes strength and self confidence, “bullets” are a metaphor for bullying and hurtful words
“I am titanium”
What does this lyric connote?
Connotes invincibility and resistance in response to bullies
What musical genre is Titanium?
House/urban/pop/dance/techno
What binary oppositions are present within the music video?
Natural vs supernatural
Kids vs adults
How do we know the video is set in 1980s America?
Use of desaturated colour scheme (browns, beiges and yellows), natural lighting, specific dress codes and hairstyles establish the setting at early 1980s suburban America
Verisimilitude; record player and old TV at the boy’s house, corded landline phone at the school
How are the jogging women represented?
Wearing stereotypical 80s fitness wear
Stereotypically represented as overweight Americans which could be a commentary on American overindulgence
How is the boy’s isolation and lack of support represented?
A long shot of the dark empty forest as he runs away
His house being messy, like how a kid would be, which suggests he lives alone and has no parents
No friends throughout the video, he is the only kid at the school
Opening shot of him cowering in the school corridor, alone and vulnerable
How does this music video subvert from mainstream collective identity?
A narrative video which lacks performance/lip-syncing from Sia and therefore goes against the mainstream in order to be unique and individual
What themes are represented within the video?
Metaphorical bullying, Being different/outcasted, self-confidence and harnessing ones inner strength against adversity
Who directed the music video?
David Wilson who previously worked with Arctic Monkeys and Tame Impala
Neither Sia nor Guetta are present in the music video, why is this?
Deliberate omission of both artists from the video means it can focus more on symbolism, communicating message and cinematic narrative structure
What intertextual references are present in this video?
References to Spielberg films and his settings; the video is set in Spielbergian, suburban, white picket fence and freshly mowed lawn late 70s-early 80s America (the juxtaposition between a seemingly “perfect” town and the supernatural, strange, abnormal occurrences within in are a common theme in Spielberg films)
Reference to the supernatural/alien/UFO media boom in popularity during the 80s
Superargo 1968 film poster next to the TV in the boy’s house, tthis is a metaphor for the boy’s own situation and in the film the protagonist Superargo battles “faceless giants” who could represent the boy’s own bullies
American actor Ryan Lee, who plays the boy in the video, also starred in Spielberg’s 2011 film Super 8 that released 6 months before Titanium.
Super 8 is set in a similar time period to the video (1979) and is about empowering young people/teenagers, which Titanium took inspiration from
Where was the video filmed?
Quebec, Canada
How is CGI used within the video?
At the end to create the explosion/blast from the boy’s supernatural powers
What 8 key areas of media language should we analyse when looking at music videos?
Camera shots/angles/movement
Editing (cuts, transitions)
Sound (diegetic, non-diegetic)
Narrative structure
Representations (CAGEDS)
Themes
Messages
Values
What is the name of the actor who plays the main protagonist?
Ryan Lee
